MISGAV, Israel and SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Medgenics, Inc. (NYSE Amex: MDGN and AIM: MEDU, MEDG), the developer of a novel technology for the sustained production and delivery of therapeutic proteins in patients using their own tissue, today announced receipt of clearance from the Israeli Ministry of Health to initiate a Phase IIa clinical study evaluating the safety and efficacy of sustained erythropoietin (“EPO”) therapy produced and delivered by the Company’s EPODURE™ Biopumps™. The study will assess EPODURE’s ability to replace months of routine EPO injections for the treatment of anemia in patients with end-stage renal disease (“ESRD” or “kidney failure”) who are on dialysis.